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To rebuild or not to rebuild

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ekamm

ekamm

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Here are some picks of what appear to be original rear brake cylinder. It measures to be a5/8" bore. The question is to rebuild it or get the replacement cylinders. I think that it's to scored/pitted to get it to last very long.
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I'd get it sleeved if possible or replace it. That looks nasty in there. Brakes are too important to go cheap.
 
$ 40 from Victoria British for a pair. The kit is $25 each.
 
If you go with new cylinders ask where they are made. I purchased a pair from one of the Big Three last year and when I started asking the sales rep about where they were made etc. he told me that the cheaper ones were made in India, but they also had some made in England to Girling specs. The ones made in India are probably very good products. I bought the ones made in the UK. I just had too many questions about the metallurgy of products coming out of India and China.
 
ekamm said:
The kit is $25 each.
Click to expand...
According to my TRF Glovebox Companion, GISP2030 does two cylinders.
 
JKB1957 said:
If you go with new cylinders ask where they are made. I purchased a pair from one of the Big Three last year and when I started asking the sales rep about where they were made etc. he told me that the cheaper ones were made in India, but they also had some made in England to Girling specs. The ones made in India are probably very good products. I bought the ones made in the UK. I just had too many questions about the metallurgy of products coming out of India and China.
Click to expand...

<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-style: italic">"The ones made in India are probably very good products."</span></span>

Sure, and if grandma had wheels she'd be a wagon!

Two comments - this has happened to me in the past. It's not exactly, bait and switch, but it comes close, and that's enough for me to be suspicious of a supplier.

Example - when the local franchised brake outfit does a brake job for an unbelievably low price, did you ever wonder what kind of parts they were using? Sure, you get a lifetime warranty, but whose life are they talking about? For our daily drivers, we have been using the same mechanic for over 20 years. He knows that we expect OEM or equivalent. Sure, he's more expensive but not in the long run.

Q.E.D.
 
I would replace, not rebuild, no question. The key is to find the OEM quality replacement parts. I was bleeding the brakes on my TR4A this summer. All going according to plan except when I tightened down the bleeder on the rear wheel cylinder (original Gerling from 1966). It started leaking from a hairline crack in the body of the wheel cylinder. I suspect a prior mechanic over-tightened the bleeder screw.

So, after removing the wheel cylinder for inspection, I further tightened down the bleeder and the whole side of the wheel cylinder tore off. Inside the crack it showed evidence of not being a fresh crack. I suspect it had been there for years.

I checked out two options for replacement. 1) one of the big three for something made in India or China. Or 2) , believe it or not, my local NAPA store. I must admit, NAPA always carries very high quality parts. Anyway, NAPA was able to determine a Raybestos part number and source two of them (decided to do both sides). When the parts arrived, they were actually stamped with "Gerling" and the exact same part number as was on the originals I removed.

Yes, they were about twice the price (~$65 each) but, I was very satisfied with the quality and would absolutely do it again.

If anyone needs the Raybestos number, I am sure I can look it up at home.

Bob
 
RJS said:
When the parts arrived, they were actually stamped with "Gerling" and the exact same part number as was on the originals I removed.
Click to expand...

Surely, this part can't be made by Girling? I mean, they wouldn't mis-spell their own name, woul...

Oh, I see. Never mind.
 
My bad. I used to work in the insurance biz and dealt with a German insurance company spelled "Gerling". Just old habits. The wheel cylinder definitely read "Girling"

Bob
PS: I was going to correct earlier but, didn't think anyone would notice :smile:
 
RJS if you could find the raybestos number let me know. Victoria British back ordered the replacement cylinder.
 
RJS said:
My bad. I used to work in the insurance biz and dealt with a German insurance company spelled "Gerling". Just old habits. The wheel cylinder definitely read "Girling"

Bob
PS: I was going to correct earlier but, didn't think anyone would notice :smile:
Click to expand...

Just having a little fun at your expense, Bob.

Thanks for being a good sport about it!
 
Hi Eric,

So, it is a Raybestos #WC37355. The box also had an additional PN of 63-37355 UK. The part itself looks identical to your photo above. It reads Girling and has the number 64673305 on the body, just like your photo.

This is the model to fit a TR4A with a 0.70" bore. The earlier TR models (possibly yours) had a 0.75" bore. I don't recall exactly when Triumph changed sizes. My understanding is that with a smaller bore you get further travel in the wheel cylinder given an equal amount of pedal travel.

Hope this helps more than it confuses.

Bob
 
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